Closure means



CLOSURE MEANS Filed Oct 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HEMQYJJfl/wmwswi BY a ATT'QRNEY Oct. 20, 1959 H. J. JANKOWSKI CLOSURE MEANSFiled Oct. 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY H. J. JANKOWSKIOct. 20, 1959 CLOSURE MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 5, 1956 INVENTORATTQRNEY 0a. 20, 1959 H. J. JANKOV VSKl CLOSURE MEANS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 41 Filed Oct. 5, 1956 INVENTOR HENR YIflA/KOWSK/ ATTORNEY United StatesPatent O Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofNew York Application October 5, 1956, Serial No. 614,112

14 Claims. (11. 110- 1 This invention relates to vapor generators andmore particularly to a closure assembly for sealing access openings invapor generator walls through which entry may be gained to the interiorof the vapor generator.

In large capacity vapor generators of conventional design, accessopenings or apertures are usually provided in the boiler walls throughwhich access to the interiors of the vapor generators is gained forpurposes of inspection and/orrepairs. The access openings are closed byclosure means, as for example access doors, which are positioned withinthe openings and bolted to the boiler wall adjacent the perimeter of theopenings. The access doors are of unitary construction comprising ametal frame, an'exterior metal plate secured to the frame, and aninterior bodyportion adjacent the metal plate consisting of a layer ofthermal insulation and a layer of castable refractory material. Theseaccess doors are relatively heavy, and require more than one person and/or the use of a hoist to effect removal thereof. For example,superheater access doors which are disposed in the walls of marine vaporgenerators weigh approximately 180 pounds. In vapor generators whereinan outer casing is provided in closely spaced relationship with the wallof the vapor generator, the removal of an access door is particularlydifiicult because its removal must be accomplished through an accessopening or aperture in the outer casing. Another disadvantage of presentaccess doors is that the metal frame of the door and the metal bustiongases generated in the boiler, which gases cause rapid corrosion of thedoor frame and the metal frame of the access opening. A furtherundesirable feature of present access door construction is the leakageof combustion gases into the furnace room through the space between theaccess door and the frame of the access opening; This leakage causespollution of the air in the furnace room and is injurious to operatingpersonnel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aclosure assembly for an access opening in a vapor generator wall, whichclosure assembly is of relatively simple construction and is capable ofbeing readily and easily mounted and removed from an access opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure assemblywhich effects a fluid-tight seal with the access opening.

The present invention contemplates a novel access closure assembly foran access opening or aperture in a vapor generator wall, which closureassembly comprises at least one plate member and support means in thewalls of the opening or aperture for receiving and supporting said platemember transversely of the opening to thereby divide the latter into twoclosure sections. A refractory wall is arranged in each closure sectionadjacent to the inner surface of the vapor generator wall and inabutment with each other and the walls of the opening to thereby sealthe access opening. An anchor frame is provided in each closure sectionadjacent the refractory wall. The anchor frames engage means in eachclosure section 2,909,132 Patented Oct. '20, 1959 whereby the frames arerestrained from movement in a direction toward the refractory wall.Second means are provided for interconnecting the anchor frames of eachsection with the refractory wall adjacent thereto to prevent movement ofthe wall in a direction away from the anchor frame. Each section isprovided with a cover plate which is disposed against the anchor framesfor attachment to the outer surface of the vapor generator wall toretain the anchor frames within their respective closure sections. Eachof the anchor frames is constructed to provide spaces between theadjacent cover plate and the adjacent refractory wall and the spaces arefilled with heat insulating material.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detaileddescription thereof when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, in elevation, of a vapor generator havingan access closure assembly in accordance with the present invention, andwherein parts of the assembly are broken away for clarity ofillustration;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line .3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, somewhatenlarged;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in elevation, of an anchor frameand the adjacent refractory Wall showing an anchor bolt interconnectingthe anchor frame and refractory wall;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the locking cylinders whichsecure the anchor bolts to the anchor frames;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of one of the closuresections according to the present invention, showing the cooperativerelationship of the frame, the support members, the plate members andthe anchor frame;

Fig. 9 is an exploded fragmentary view, in perspective, showing asupport member, a plate member, and an anchor frame of the presentinvention prior to assembly;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a cover plate of the present invention;and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, in section, taken along line 11-11 ofFig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, 10designates a side wall of a conventional vapor generator, which vaporgenerator has an upper vaporliquid drum 11 (partially shown) disposed inthe roof (not shown) of the vapor generator and a liquid drum 12 (partlyshown) disposed to the left of the vertical axis of vapor-liquid drum 11in the floor (not shown) of the vapor generator. The vapor generator isprovided with an outer Wall or casing 13 (Figs. 1 and 3) which isdisposed in spaced, parallel relationship to side Wall 10. Side wall 10is provided with an access opening or aperture 14 which extends betweenvapor-liquid drum 11 and liquid drum 12 and is inclined to the verticalaxis of the vapor generator. An access opening (not shown, since thewall defining the opening is broken away in Fig. 1) is provided in outercasing wall 13 and is disposed to lie in substantial alignment withaccess opening or aperture 14 in side wall 10. The access opening ofouter Wall 13 is closed, in a conventional manner, by a plurality ofplates 15 (Fig. 2). Access aperture 14 is closed by a closure assembly16, constituting the present invention which will hereinafter bedescribed in detail.

Closure assembly 16 comprises a metal frame 17 which lines the walls ofaperture 14. Frame 17 has spaced, parallel side members 18 and 1.9 andan upper member or lintel 20 and a lower member or saddle 21. Sidemembers 18 and 19 are L-shaped in cross-section, as best shown in Figs.4, 5 and 8, and are each disposed with one leg 22 thereof lying in arecess 23 formed in the aperture side walls 24 and 25 and the other leg26 lying in a recess 27 formed in the outer surface of wall along theedge of aperture side walls 24 and 25. Legs 22 of side members 18 and 19extend the length of side walls 24 and 25 and in alignment therewith andinwardly from the exterior surface of wall 10 to a point approximatelymid-way between the exterior and interior surface of wall 10 (Fig. 4).Upper and lower walls 28 and 29, respectively, of aperture 14 arerecessed, as shown in Fig. 2, to receive lintel 26 and saddle 21,respectively. Side members 18 and 19, are secured as by welding, at

their upper ends to lintel 20 and at their lower ends to saddle 21.

A plurality of support members 30 (Figs. 1, 4 and 8) are secured, as bywelding or by other suitable means, to the surface of legs 22 of sidemembers 18 and 19 in spaced relationship to each other and lintel 20 andsaddle 21. Each support member 30 of side member 18 is arranged oppositea support member 30 of side member 19 to thereby provide pairs ofsupport members spaced from each other along the length of side members18 and 19. Each pair of support members 30 is constructed and arranged,as hereinafter described, to support a metal plate member 31,hereinafter morefully described. As shown in the drawings, three pairsof support members 30 are provided to receive and support three platemembers 31 transversely of aperture 14 to thereby divide the latter intoan upper closure section A, two intermediate closure sections B and C,and a lower closure section D. Each support member 30, as best shown inFigs. 8, 9 and 11, comprises a rectangular plate 32 to which is welded,or otherwise suitably secured, an L-shaped spacer member 33. Spacermember 33 has a horizontal leg 34 which extends adjacent the lower edgeof plate 32 and a .vertical leg 35 which extends adjacent the innervertical edge of plate 32. Each support member 30 is secured to legs 22of side members 18 and 19 with spacer member 33 disposed against thesurface of legs 22 to thereby position plate 32 in spaced parallelrelationship with the surface of legs 22 and to provide a slot 36defined by plate 32, spacer member 33 and legs 22 of frame 17. 8

Plate members 31, hereinafter referred to as closure lintels, arerectangular metal plates having a width substantially equal to the widthof legs 22 of side members 18 and 19 and having dependent end portions37. The dependent end portions 37 of each closure lintel 31', areadapted for insertion in slots 36 formed by a pair of support members 30so that the end portions 37 abut the vertical legs 35 of spacer members33 (see Figs. 3 and 4) and the under surfaces of closure lintels 31 restupon the upper edges of plates 32 (best shown in Fig. 11). Each closurelintel 31 is thus supported at each end by 'a support member 30transversely within frame 14 and normal to legs 22 of side members 18and 19. Lintels 31 are restricted against movement in a downwarddirection by plates 32 of support members 30 and in a direction inwardlyfrom the outer surface of vapor generator wall 10 by abutment ofdependent end portions 37 against vertical legs 35 of spacer members 33.

A refractory wall 38, comprising a plurality of refractory bricks 39arranged in rows, one above the other, is constructed in each of theclosure sections A, B, C and D. Refractory walls 38 of intermediateclosure sections B and C are constructed to'extend upwardly between andin abutment with adjacent closure lintels 31 (Figs. 2 and 3) and betweenand in abutment with legs 22 of side members 18 and 19 and aperture sidewalls 24 and 25 (Fig. 4). Refractory wall 38 of closure section A, asshown, is constructed to extend upwardly between legs 22 and apertureside walls 24 and 25 from the uppermost closure lintel 31 to the topwall 28 of aperture 14, while refractory wall 38 of the lower closuresection D extends upwardly between legs 22 of side members 18 and 19 4and aperture side walls 24 and 25 from bottom wall 29 of aperture 14 tothe lowermost closure lintel 31 (Fig. 2). Refractory walls 38 of eachclosure section A, B, C and D are in contact with each other, adjacentclosure lintels 31, to provide a continuous refractory wall structureextending between aperture top and bottom Walls 28 and 29, respectively,and side walls 24 and 25. In the construction of refractory walls 38, avery thin coating of mortar is applied between the abutting surfaces ofbricks 39 of the walls 38, between the adjacent refractory bricks andthe top and bottom walls 28 and 29, and between the bricks and lintels31 and legs 22 of side members 18 and 19 to thereby prevent leakage ofcombustion products through aperture 14. The mortar'is of a composition,well known to those skilled in the art, which will not fuse into aceramic bond at high temperatures, as for example approximately 2500 E,so that, when it is necessary to gain access to the interior of thevapor generator, separation of bricks 39 of refractory walls 38 may beaccomplished with relative ease and with little or no damage to thebricks.

As shown in Figs. 2' and 3, the lowermost row of refractory bricks 39 ofrefractory walls 38 of closure sections A, B and C have a portion oftheir undersurfaces recessed at 40 to receive therein a portion ofclosure lintels 31 so that the lowermost row of bricks 39 extend overthe inner edges ofclosure lintels 31. With the lowermost row ofrefractory bricks 39 extending over the entire inner edge of lintels 31and in abutment with the uppermost row of bricks 39 of'the next loweradjacent refractory wall 38, the lintels are shielded from the hotcombustion products generated within the vapor generator. Refractorybricks 39 in the lowermost row of refractory walls 38 are also providedwith triangular depressions 41 in their recessed surfaces 40. Eachclosure lintel 31, as best shown in Fig. 8, is provided with a pluralityof aligned spaced triangular shaped projections or teeth 42 on the uppersurfaces of lintels 31. Teeth 42 project into depressions 41 oflowermost row of refractory bricks 39 to thereby anchor the lowermostrow of bricks 39 of refractory Walls 38 to closure lintels 31.

Bricks 39 which are placed adjacent support members 30 in closuresections B, C and D are'notched at 40A to accommodate thereintheadjacent support member 30 and permit the bricks 39 to contactaperture'side walls 24 and 25 (see Fig. 4) and thereby shield supportmerribers 30 from the combustion products generated within the vaporgenerator.

A metal anchor frame 43 is disposed in each closure section in contactwith the outersurface of refractory walls 38 andis connected to theadjacent refractory wall, as hereinafter described. Each anchor frame 43of closure section B and C comprises, as best shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 9,an upper angle iron 44 which is connected by three laterally spacedangle irons 45 to a lower angle iron 46. Angle irons. 44 and 46 are ofa'length substantially equal to the distance between side members 18 and19 of frame 17 so asto fit between said side members. Each of the angleirons 45 is positionedand secured to angle irons 44 and 46 so that, whenan anchor frame 43 is placed in aclosure section, legs 47 of angle irons45 lie in contact with and in a plane parallel to the outer surface ofthe adjacent refractory wall 38. Each leg 47 is provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced elongated openings 48, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter fully explained. The. upper angle iron 44 ofeach anchor frame 43 is so disposed that, when anchor frame 43 ispositioned in a closure section, a leg 49 of angle iron 44 lies parallelto the under surface of the adjacent closure lintel31 and the other leg50 extends downwardly in a plane normal to the under surface of closurelintel 31; Lower angle iron 46 of each anchor frame 43 is positioned sothat the edge of leg 51 thereof abuts against the upper surface of theadjacent lintel 31 and leg 51A is spaced from and ex- ,5 tendsparallelto the upper surface of the adjacent lintel 31. The outer surface oflegs50 .and-51 ofangle :irons 44 and '46, respectively, lie in the samevertical plane. Anchor frames 43 of closure sections A and D are similarin construction to anchor frames 43 of closure sections B and'C, anddiffer only in that the upper angle iron 44 of the anchor frame ofclosure section A is disposed so that legs 49 and '50 thereof lie-inabutment against lintel 2'0, and lower angle iron 46 of anchor frame '43of closure section D is disposed so that legs 51 and 51A thereof lie inabutment against saddle 21.

Each anchor frame 43 of intermediate closure sections B andC-ispositioned between adjacent lintels 31 so'that leg SO-of upper angleiron 44 contacts, adjacent opposite endsthereof, a pairof lugs 5-2, onelug being disposed on each of the support members 30 (bestshown in Fig.9). Leg 51 of "lower angle iron'46 abuts against two spaced lugs 53 onadjacent closure lintels 31. Lugs 53 are disposed adjacent depending endportions 37 of lintels 31 and inwardly from the-outer edge of thelintels so that, when "the anchorifrarnes are positioned in closuresections B and C with legs 51 inabutment against lugs 53, 'the outersurface of legs 51 lie in 'coplaner relationship with the outer edges ofclosure lintels 31 and the outer surface 'of'wall 10 of the vaporgenerator. Lugs '52 of support members '30 are "disposed on plates 32 ofthe support memberssothat, when anchor frames 43 are positioned inclosure sections B and'C with leg 50 in abutment against lugs 52, thesurface of leg "50 lies in cop'lanar're'lationship with the outer edgesof lintels 31 and the outer surface-of wall '10. Anchorframe 43 ofclosure section A is positioned so that upper angle iron 44 abuts lintel2'0 and the lower angle iron 46-a'buts lugs 53 of "the uppermost closurelintel 31.

Anchor frame 43 of "closure 'section B is positioned so that upper angleiron 44 abuts lugs 52A which are disposed on the lowermost pair ofsupport members 39 "('Figs. '2 and *5'). Lugs 52A are similar to lugs 52of the upper adjacent support members, but are disposed "inwardly fromthe outer vertical edge of plates 32 of support members '30 further thanlugs 52 of the upper adjacentsupport members, so that the anchor frame43 is positioned against the refractory wall of closure'section D whichwall, asshown in Fig. 2, is inwardly set back from the plane ofrefractory walls '38 of closure sections A, 13 and C.

Anchor frames 43 of closure sections B and C are prevented from movingin a direction toward refractory walls 38 by abutment of the framesagainst lugs 52 of support members 30 and lugs 53 of closure lintels,'asaforedescribed. Anchor frame 43 of closure section A is restrained frommovement in a direction toward refractory wall 38 by engagement withlintel 20 and lugs 53 of the uppermostclosure-lintel 31, whileanchor-frame 43 of closure section D is restrained against movementinwardly toward 'its associated refractory wall 38 by lugs 52A of thelowermost pair ofsupport members 30 and saddle 21. Sidewise movement offrames 4-3 is prevented by abutment of the opposite ends of upper angleiron 44 and lower-angle iron 46 against legs 22 of side members 18 and19. The anchor frames 43 of closure sections A, B and C are verticallysupported by the next lower closure lintel .31, while lower anchor frame43 of closure section B is supported by saddle 2-1.

:Inthe course of constructing each of the refractory walls 38, aplurality of anchor bolts 55 are inserted between every other row ofrefractory bricks .39 in such manner as to ,provide laterally spacedrows .of bolts 55, the number of bolts corresponding to the number ofopenings 48 in angle bars 45. Each anchor bolt '55, as best shown inFig. 3, is L-shaped, having a horizontal leg 56 and an upstanding leg57. A diamond-shaped member '58 is secured at the end of leg '56, normalto -the longitudinal axis of leg 56. The adjacentsurfaces -of=br i'cks'39, between which bricks 39 6 a 'boltSS is inserted, are provided'withmatching semicircular grooves 59 .(see Fig. 111) each 'of'which extendfrom theouter vertical faces of the bricks inwardly to matchingtriangular depressions 6.0, depressions "60' being similar todepressions 41in the lowermost row of bricks 39 adjacent lintels 31. Asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each 'bolt 55 is positioned betweenadjacent bricks "39 so that .leg '56 lies in "grooves 59 anddiamond-shaped member 58 lies in matching depressions'fl), and'leg 57extends upwardly in spaced relationship with the outer surface ofrefractory walls 38. Leg'57 of 'each "anchor bolt *55 "projects throughan elongated "opening '48 of an anchor frame 43 when anchor frames 43are positioned within the closure sections, 'as'aforedescribed.

Each anchor bolt "55 is secured to anchor frames '43 by .a lockingcylinder 62 (shown in Fig. 7) which has an axial bore 62A of a diameterslightly larger th'an the diameter of leg '57 of anchor "bolt 55 andanioutside diameter larger than the width of elongated slots 48. Lookingmembers '62 are passed over the end 'of 'upstanding legs 57 of anchorbolts 55 and-secure the latter to anchor frames 43 by preventing legs'57 of the anchor bolts 55 from passing through openings 48. Angle ironlegs '50 of anchor frame 43 of "intermediate closure'sections B and "Care provided with notches 54 (see Figs. 6 and 8) to facilitate slipping'loc'king members 62 on legs "57 'of the uppermost anchor'bolts 55.Anymovemerit of refractory walls 38 in a direction inwardly away from"anchor frames '43 is prevented by the latter through "bolts '55, anchorframes 43 being prevented from moving inwardly by lugs 52, 52A, 'and 53and lintel 20 and saddle 2-1, as aforedescribed.

-A layer of high temperature insulating material 63 is disposed withinanchor frame 43 of closure'section A, B, C andD. Each layerofinstilating material 63 comprises a plurality of blocks "64. Blocks'64 are arranged inthe spaces defined byendmost angle'irons 45 and theadjacent side members 18 and 19 of frame 17 and'upper and lower angleirons 44 and 46. Blocks 64' are'also arranged in the spaces defined byangle'irons '45 and upper and lower angle irons 44 and 46. Blocks 64 are"suitably recessed at 65 (Fig. '3) to accommodate therein anchor bolts55 and locking cylinders 62, and is suitably cut-out (not shown) toaccommodate therein supportmembers '30 so that the'layer'of insulatingmaterial lies flat and 'flush'with orextends slightly outwardly of theouter surface o'f'refractory wall 10. The layer of insulating material63' is partially shown only in Fig. 3 and 'has been entirely omittedfrom Figs. 1, -2, 4 and 5 for the sake of clarity.

The assembly of intermediate closure sections "B and C is completedbycover plates 66 which are disposed'to overlie anchor frames 43 inabutment against the surface of legs 50 and '51 of upper angle 'bars 44and '46, respectively (see Figs. 2 and '3'). Each of the'coverplates'6'6, as shown in Fig. 10, comprises a relatively thin 'metalplate which is dimensioned to extend between adjacent closure lintels'31 and to'sli'ghtly'overlap the edge "of aperture walls 24 and 25.Cover'plates 66'areprovidedwith outwardly extending upper 'flanged edges67 and lower flanged edges 68, and are reinforced by spaced parallelribs '69 which are secured, as by welding, to the outer surface of saidcover plates 66. Cover plates '66 are provided with reinforcing strips66A which are secured, as by welding, to flanges. 67 and 68 and alongthelateral edge portions thereof to lend rigidity to the cover plates66.

Upper closure section A is provided with a cover plate 70 which issimilar in construction to cover plates 66 and'ditfers from the latterin that only the lower edge of the plate is flanged, as shown at 71, theupper portion 72 of cover plate 70 extending slightly beyond lintel 2Gand flush with wall "10. Cover plate 70 is provided with reinforcingstrips 70A, similar to strips 66A of cover plates 66, which strips 70Aare secured, as by welding,

to flange 71, the lateral edges of the cover plate, and to upper portion72 thereof;

Lower closure section D is provided with a cover as sembly-73 whichcomprises spaced parallel inner and outer plates 74 and 75,respectively, which are secured together along their edges. A layer ofhigh temperature insulating material 76 is disposed in the space betweenplates 74 and 75. The upper edge of cover member 73 is provided with anoutwardly extending flange 77 while .the lower edge is flanged at 78 soas to overlap saddle 21 and lie flush against wall 10 of the vaporgenerator. Two spaced parallel ribs 79, similar to ribs 69, are securedto the outer surface of plate 75.

Cover plates 66, cover plate 70 and cover assembly 73 are disposed sothat flange 71 of cover plate 70 contacts upper flange 67 of cover plate66 of the intermediate closure-section B, while lower flange 68 of coverplate 66 of closure section B contacts upper flange 67 of cover plate 66of closure section C, and lower flange 68 of cover plate 66 of closuresection C engages flange 77 of cover member 73 of closure section D. Theabutting flanges 67, 68, 71 and 77, including reinforcing strips 66A and70A which are secured to the flanges, are each provided with a pluralityof spaced bores 80 which are brought into register to receive bolts 81for securing together cover plates 66 of closure sections B and C, coverplate 7 of closure section A to cover plate 66 of closure section B andcover assembly 73 of closure section D to the cover plate 66 of closuresection C. The lateral edge portions of cover plates 66, cover plate 70and cover assembly 73 are secured to wall by a plurality of spacedfastening members 82. Each of the fastening members 82, comprise asshown in Figs. 4 and 5, a U-shaped bar 83 which is disposed so that oneleg bears against the lateral edge portions of the cover plates 66 and 70 and cover assembly 73 and the other leg bears against wall 10,adjacent aperture 14. Each U-shaped bar 83 is drawn tight against coverplates 66 and 70 and cover assembly 73 and wall 10 by a bolt 84 whichextends through a hole in bar 83 and is threaded into bores in wall 10.The upper edge portion 72 of cover plate 70 and flange 78 of covermember 73 are also secured to wall 10 by a plurality of spaced fasteningmembers 82.

In order to gain access to the interior of the vapor generator throughaperture 14, one or more of the closure sections A, B, C or D isremoved. Let it be assumed that access is desired through closuresection B (best shown in Fig. 3) of closure assembly 16. Cover plate 15,opposite closure section B, is unfastened from casing wall 13 and theadjacent upper and lower cover plates 15 and removed to permit access toclosure section B. Removal of cover plate 66 of closure section B isaccomplished by loosening bolts '84 of the fastening members 82 so thatU-shaped bars 83 may be rotated about bolts 84 to free the lateral edgeportions of cover plate 66. Bolts 81, which secure lower flange 68 ofcover plate 66 to upper flange 67 of the adjacent cover plate 66 ofclosure section C, are then removed from bores 80. Bolts 81, whichsecure upper flange 67 of cover plate 66 to lower flange 71 of coverplate 70 of closure section A, are removed from bores 80. With thelateral portions of cover plate 66 unfastened from wall 10, and flanges67 and 68 of cover plates 66 unbolted from the flanges of the adjacentupper and lower cover plates, cover plate 66 can be removed. Afterremoval of cover plate 66, blocks 64 of heat insulating material areremoved to expose anchor bolts 55. Anchor frame 43 then is disconnectedfrom its associated refractory wall 38 by sliding each of the lockingcylinders 62 from legs 57 of anchor bolts 55. With the removal oflocking cylinders 62, legs 57 of anchor bolts 55 are free to passthrough elongated openings 48 as the anchor frame is withdrawn frombetween lintels 31 and side members 18 and 19. After anchor frame 43 isremoved, refractory wall 38 is then removed by separating bricks 39 ofthe wall and removing the anchor bolts 55 as they are exposed. Sincebricks 39 are not ceramically bonded together or to legs 22 of sidemembers 18 and 19 and lintels 31, separation of the bricks 39 isaccomplished with relative ease and with little or no damage to thebricks. Disassembly of wall 38, for example, may be started by working athin tool around bricks 39, designated X and Y in Fig. 3, in between theabutting surfaces of bricks 39 and bricks X and Y to break thenon-ceramic bond therebetween. After bricks X and Y are freed from thesurrounding bricks, bricks X and Y can be removed from wall 38 by usinganchor bolt 55, which lies between bricks X and Y, as a handle.Thereafter, the remaining bricks 39 may be readily separated andremoved. As can be seen, removal of closure section B is accomplishedwithout disturbing or affecting the adjacent closure sections A, C andD, the adjacent closure sections A and C being vertically supported byclosure lintels 31 and closure section D being supported by saddle 21.

To re-assemble closure section B, refractory wall 38 is reconstructedwith anchor bolts 55 inserted between adjacent bricks in the manneraforedescribed using the same bricks 39, or some new bricks 39 toreplace damaged or defective bricks, if necessary, or may be constructedentirely of new refractory bricks. Anchor frame 43 is then positionedwith its upper angle iron 44 in contact against lugs 54 of supportmembers 30, with its lower angle iron 46 in abutment against lugs 53 ofthe lower closure lintel 31, with legs 47 of its angle irons 45 inabutment against the outer surfaces of refractory wall 38, and with legs57 of anchor bolts 55 extending through elongated openings 48 in legs 47of anchor frame 43. Thereafter, locking cylinders 62 are slipped on legs57 of bolts 55 to secure the refractory wall to anchor frame 43. Heatinsulating blocks 64 are then placed within anchor frame 43, asaforedescribed. Cover plate 66 is then repositioned against anchor frame43 so that bores in upper flange 67 are in register with bores 80 inflange 71 of the upper adjacent cover plate 70, and bores 80 in lowerflange 68 are in register with bores 80 in upper flange 67 of the nextlower cover plate 66. Bolts are then inserted in bores 80 and nutsthreaded thereon to secure together adjacent flanges 67 and 71 andadjacent flanges 67 and 68. The U-shaped bars83 of fastening members 82are repositioned so as to engage the lateral edge portions of coverplate 66 and bolts 82 are tightened to secure cover plate 66 torefractory wall 10.

The other closure sections A, C and D are removed by the same procedureas disclosed with respect to closure section B. If two or more adjacentclosure sections are removed, closure lintel 31 disposed between thesections may also be removed by sliding dependent end portions 37 out ofengagement with slots 36 formed between support members 30 and surfaceof legs 22 of side members 18 and 19. Removal of one or more closurelintels 31 between two or more closure sections provides a largeunobstructed opening to the interior of the vapor generator.

The present invention, as now can be understood, provides a closureassembly for an access aperture which assembly comprises two or moreclosure sections. Each closure section is removable from the accessaperture by disassembly of the component parts thereof, whichdisassembly may be accomplished by one individual and without the use ofhoists or the like. The closure assembly of the present invention alsoeliminates combustion gas leakage and the resultant corrosion of metalparts which occurs in conventional unitary access door structures.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understoodthat the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be madein the arrange ment of parts without departing from the spirit and 9'scopeof the invention, as the same will .now be-understood by thoseskilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure arrangement for an access aperture in a wall of a heatingapparatus, comprising atleast-one plate member, at least two supportmembers secured to said wall within said access aperture and oppositeeach other for receiving the opposite ends of the plate member tosupport the latter within said access aperture to thereby divide saidaperture into at least two-closuresections, a refractory wallconstructed and arranged within each closure section adjacent the-innersurface of the heating apparatus wall and set back from theouter surfaceof said wall to provide a recess in each closure section, saidrefractory walls being in abutment with the aperture walls and saidplate member and each other to seal the access aperture, an anchor framedisposed in the recess of each section adjacent the refractory Wallthereof, said plate member and said support members having means forengaging the anchor frames to restrain movement of the anchor frames inthe direction toward the refractory walls andallowing movement of theanchor frame in a direction away from the associated refractory wall,detachable means connecting the refractory wall and the anchor frame ofeach closure section to prevent movement of the refractory walls in adirection away from the anchor frame, anda cover plate for each closuresection detachably connected to the outer surface of the heatingapparatus wall to retain the anchor frames within the closure sections.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of the anchor frames isconstructed and dimensioned to provide at least one space between theadjacent refractory wall and thecover plate of each section forreceiving heat insulating material.

3. The structure'of claim 1' wherein each of the refractory wallscomprises a plurality of refractory bricks disposed adjacent each otherina fluid-tight manner and in fluid-tight abutment with the adjacentrefractory walls and the walls of the vapor generator.

4. A closure means for an access aperture in a wall of a heatingapparatus which access aperture has top and bottom walls andsubstantially vertical side walls, the closure means comprising atleast-one plate member, at least two support members secured oppositeeach other to said side walls of theaperture forreceivingthe oppositeends of the 'plate member to support the latter horizontally within andacross'said aperture and in spaced relationship to the top and bottomaperture walls to thereby divide the-access aperture into :two closuresecitions, a refractory wall disposed :in each closure section and setback from the plane-of the-exterior surface of the wall ofsaidheatingapparatus :to provide a recess in each closure section, the refractorywalls .of each section being disposed in abutment with the plate memberand the aperture walls to .seal the access aperture, an anchor framemember disposedinthe recess of each:closure section, said plate memberand the support members having .means .for engaging said .anchor frame{members to restrain movement thereof .in :a direction toward thedetachably connected :to the heating apparatus wall to retain the plate.member and anchor frame members in each section.

5. The closure means 'of .claim 4 wherein the plate member and the aboveadjacent refractory wall are provided with means for interlocking one:with the other.

6. closure means for an accessaperture in a vapor generator wall,comprising a plurality of plate mem bers, a pair of support members foreachgplatememberg the support membersofeach pair ofsupport members beingsecured opposite each other to opposite'walls of said aperture and inspaced relationship with the neat adjacent pair of support members, eachpair of support members receiving a plate member to support the samewithin said aperture to thereby divide the access aperture into aplurality of closure sections, are'fractory wall disposed within'saidaccess aperture in each closure section and setback frornrthe-planeof th'e exterior surface of said vaporgenerator wall -'to :provide -arecess in each closure section, the-"refractory walls of' erch sectionbeing disposed in abutment-with the plate members and the aperturew-a1ls =to seal the accms aperture, an anchor frame member disposed inthe'recess of'each closure section adjacent saidrefr-actory wallthereof, said support members and saidplate members having means forengaging said anchor frames-torestrain the latte'r from movement towardthe refractory wall and allowing movement of each anchor frame in -adirection away from its associated refractory wall, detachable means forconnecting each of said anchor frame members and the associatedrefractory wa'llto restrain movement of the latter in adirection awayfrom the anchor frames, and a cover plate in each section disposedadjacent said anchor frame members and detach-ably connected to thevapor-generator 'wall'to retain the-anchor frames in said a closuresections.

7. A closure means for an access aperture in a vapor generator wall,comprising a plurality of plate members, a pair of support membersfor-each plate member, the support members of each pair of supportmembers being secured opposite each other to opposite walls of 'saidaperture and in spaced relationship with the next adjacent pair ofsupport members, each'pair of'suppor't members receiving the oppositeends of a plate member to support the same and thereby divide the accessaperture intoa plurality of closure sections, a refractory wall disposedin each closure section and set back "from the plane of the exteriorsurface of the vapor generator wall to provide a recess 'in eachclosuresection, the re fractory walls beingconstructed and arranged to abut rthe plate members and to join eachcther and 'the aper- -ture wallsin-iluid-tight relationship to thereby seal said access aperture, ananchor frame member disposed in the recess of each closure sectionadjacent the refractory wall thereof, said support members and platemembers having means for engaging the anchor frames to restrain theanchor frames against movement toward the adjacent refractory walls andallowing movement of the anchor frames in a direction away from theadjacent refractory walls, detachable means for connecting each anchorframe member and the adjacent refractory wall to secure the wall againstmovement in a direction away from the anchor frame member, a cover platedisposed adjacent each of the anchor frame members and detachablyconnected to the vapor generator wall to retain the plate and anchorframe members in each closure section of the access aperture.

8. A closure means .for an :access opening inca vapor generator wall,comprising a plurality of plate members, a pair of support members foreachplate member, the support members of each pair of support membersbeing secured opposite each other'to opposite walls of the accessopening and in spaced relationship with the next adjacent pair ofsupport members, each pair of support members receiving the oppositeends of a plate member to support'the same between opposite walls of theaccess opening to thereby divide the access opening into a plurality ofclosure sections, a plurality of refractory bricks arranged influid-tight relationship to each other "to form the refractory wall ineach section set back from the plane of the exterior surface of thevapor generator wall to provide a recess in each closure section, therefractory wall of'each section being arranged to abut the adjacentplate members and to join each other and the vapor generator wall in afluid-tight relationship and to thereby seal said access opening, ananchor frame member disposed in the recess of each closure sectionadjacent the refractory wall thereof, each anchor frame membercomprising two spaced first angle irons and a plurality of spaced secondangle irons extending between and connected to said first angle ironsthereby forming a plurality of spaces between said first and secondangle irons, said plate members and support members having stop lugs forengaging the anchor frames to restrain the latter from movement towardrefractory walls and allowing movement thereof in a direction away fromthe refractory walls, a plurality of anchor bolts disposed in eachclosure section in engagement with the refractory bricks of therefractory wall and the second angle irons of the anchor frame in eachclosure section to secure the refractory walls against movement in adirection away from the adjacent anchor frame members, a cover platedisposed in abutment against each of the anchor frame members anddetachably connected to the vapor generator wall to retain the platesand the anchor frame members in each closure section of the accessopening, and heat insulating blocks disposed in the spaces between thefirst and second angle irons of the anchor frame members and therefractory walls and the cover plates.

9. A closure means for an'- access aperture in a vapor generator wallwhich access aperture extends from the exterior surface to the interiorsurface of the vapor generator wall to provide end surfaces definingsaid access aperture, comprising a frame having side members and a topand bottom member, said frame lining the end surfaces of the vaporgenerator wall defining the access aperture and extending along the endsurfaces from the exterior surface of the vapor generator wall to apoint short of the interior surface of the vapor generator wall, atleast one plate member, at least two support members disposed andsecured one on each side of said side members of the frame for receivingthe opposite end portions ofsaid plate member for supporting the latterin spaced relationship to the top and bottom members of the frame tothereby divide the access aperture into at least two closure sections, arefractory wall constructed of a plurality of refractory bricks joinedtogether in fluid-tight relationship and set back in each closuresection from the plane of the exterior surface of the vapor generatorwall to provide a recess in each closure section, the refractory wallsbeing arranged adjacent the inner surface of the aperture walls topartly abut the plate member and the side members of the frame and tojoin each other and the aperture walls in a fluid-tight relationship tothereby seal said access aperture, an anchor frame member insertable inthe recess of each closure section adjacent the refractory wall thereof,each of the anchor frame memberscomprises two spaced first angle ironsand a plurality of spaced substantially parallel second angle ironsextending between and connected to said first angle irons therebyproviding a pluralityof spaces between said first and second angleirons, each of said support members and said plate member having meansfor engaging the first angle irons of said anchor frames for restrainingthe anchor frames against movement in a direction toward the interiorsurface of the vapor generator wall and allowing movement of the anchorframe in a direction away from the adjacent refractory wall, meansinterconnecting each anchor frame and the adjacent refractory wall tosecure the wall against movement in a direction away from the anchorframe member, a cover plate disposed in abutment against each of theanchor frames and detachably connected to the exterior of the vaporgenerator wall to retain the anchor frames in each closure section, anda heat insulating wall consisting of a plurality of insulating blocksdisposed in the spaces between the first and second anglejirons of theanchor frame members and the refractory walls and the cover plates.

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein the plate member is provided withmeans for interlocking with the lower portion of the upper-adjacentrefractory wall,

' 11. The structureof claim9 wherein the support means includes meansfor restraining movement of the plate member in a direction toward theinterior surface of the vapor generator. 7

12. A multi-sectional closure means for an access aperture which extendssubstantially'vertically and from the exterior surface to the interiorsurface of a vapor generator wall to provide end surfaces defining theaccess aperture, comprising a frame having sidemembers and a top andbottom member, said frame lining the end surfaces of the vapor generatorwall defining the aperture and extending along the end surfaces from theexterior surface of the vapor generator wall to a point short of theinterior surface of the vapor generator wall, a plurality of platemembers disposed to extend between the side members of the frame, aplurality of support members secured to each of the side members inspaced relationship to each other and to the top and bottom members ofthe frame,

the support member on each side member engaging an opposite end portionof each plate member so that said plate members dividethe accessaperture into a plurality of closure sections, a refractory walldisposed in each section and set back from the plane of the exteriorsurface of the vapor generator wall to provide a recess in each closuresection, each of said refractory walls consisting of a plurality ofrefractory bricks joined together in fluidtight relationship to eachother, the refractory walls being constructed and arranged in eachclosure section adjacent the interior surface of the vapor generatorwall to abut in a fluid-tight manner the plate members and the sidemembers and top and bottom members of the frame and to join each otheradjacent the plate members and the aperture wallsadjacent the sidemembers, top and bottom members of the frame to thereby seal the accessaperture, an anchor frame insertable in the recess of each closuresection adjacent the refractory wall thereof, each of said anchor framescomprising two spaced first angle irons, a plurality of spaced secondangle irons extending between and connected to said firstangleirons'thereby forming a plurality of spaces between said first andsecond angle irons, said plate members and the support members havingmeans for restraining movement of the anchor frames in a directiontoward the interior surface of the vapor generator wall, a plurality ofanchor bolts disposed in each section for engaging at one end the bricksof the refractory walls and at the opposite end the second angle ironsof the anchor frames for anchoring the refractory walls against movementaway from the anchor frames, 8. removable cover plate for each sectiondisposed against the plate members and the anchor frames and detachablyconnected to the exterior surface of the vapor generator wall to retainthe plate members and the anchor frames in each section, and a heatinsulating wall consisting of a plurality of insulating blocks disposedin said spaces between the first and second angle irons of the anchorframe and the refractory walls and the cover plates.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein each support member comprises aplate spaced from the surface of the side member of the frame to definea slot between the plate and the surface of the frame, and wherein theplate members arefprovided with opposite pendent end portions receivablein the slots of the support members.

14. A multi-sectional closure means for an access aperture which extendssubstantially vertically and from the exterior surface to the interiorsurface of a vapor generator wall to provide end surfaces defining theaccess aperture, comprising a frame lining the end surfaces of the vaporgenerator wall defining the access aperture and extending along the endsurfaces from the exterior surface of the vapor generator wall to apoint short of the interior surface of the vapor generator wall, saidframe consisting of side members connected at their top portions to alintel and at their bottom portions to a saddle, a plurality of supportmembers secured to each of the side frame members in spaced relationshipto each other and spaced from the lintel and the saddle, the supportmembers of one side member being disposed opposite the support membersof the opposite side member of the frame to thereby provide pairs ofsupport members, a plurality of plate members corresponding in number tothe number of pairs of support members, each of said plate membersdimensioned to extend between a pair of support members and havingopposite end portions adapted to engage a support member of each pair ofsupport members, said plate members dividing the access opening into atleast one intermediate closure section and adjacent top and bottomclosure sections, a refractory wall disposed in each closure section andset back from the plane of the exterior surface of the vapor generatorwall to provide a recess in each closure section, each of saidrefractory walls being constructed of a plurality of refractory bricksjoined together in fluid-tight relationship for sealing the accessopening, the refractory wall of each section being constructed andarranged within the access aperture to partly abut along its sides theside members of the frame and the end surfaces of the vapor generatorwall defining the access aperture adjacent the side members, and topartly abut the plate members and each other adjacent said platemembers, the refractory wall of the top and bottom closure sectionsbeing disposed so as to partly abut along their bottom surface thelintel and the saddle of the respective closure sections and the endsurfaces of the vapor generator wall adjacent the lintel and the saddleof the respective closure sections, an anchor frame insertable in therecess of each closure section adjacent the refractory wall thereof,each of said anchor frames comprising two spaced first angle irons, aplurality of spaced substantially parallel second angle irons extendingbetween and connected to said first angle irons thereby forming aplurality of spaces between said first and second angle irons, each ofsaid support members having a stop member, each of said plate membershaving a pair of stop members, first angle irons of the anchor frame ofthe intermediate section being in engagement with said stop members of apair of support members and the stop members of the lower adjacent platemember whereby the anchor frame is positioned in the section andprevented from movement in a direction toward the interior surface ofthe vapor generator wall and allowed to move in a direction away fromthe interior surface of the vapor generator wall, the first angle ironsof the anchor frame of the top and bottom closure sections being inengagement with the stop members of the plate members of theirrespective closure sections and the lintel and saddle of the respectiveclosure sections for positioning the anchor frames in the respectiveclosure sections and preventing movement of the anchor frames in adirection toward the interior surface of the vapor generator wall andallowing movement of the anchor frames in a direction away from theinterior surface of the vapor generator wall, a plurality of anchorbolts disposed in each section for engaging at one end the bricks of therefractory walls and at the opposite end the second angle irons of theanchor frames to anchor the refractory walls against movement away fromthe anchor frames, a removable cover plate for each closure sectiondisposed against the first and second angle irons of the anchor framesand detachably connected to the exterior surface of the vapor generatorwall and to the adjacent cover plate to retain the anchor frames in eachsection, and a heat insulating wall consisting of a plurality ofinsulating blocks disposed adjacent each other in the spaces between thefirst and second angle irons of the anchor frames and the refractorywalls and the adjacent cover plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,546,556 Scheying July 21, 1925 2,144,598 Brinckerhoff et al. Jan. 7,1939 2,249,799 Trainer July 22, 1941 2,384,859 Thayer Sept. 18, 19452,429,949 Thayer Oct. 28, 1947

